My Green Montgomery

Fahrney Branch and Furnace Branch Subwatersheds

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Furnace Branch

The Montgomery County headwaters of Furnace Branch begin near the intersection of Mt Ephraim Road and Barnesville Road near the towns of Barnesville and Comus. Furnace Branch flows through farm fields, pasture and forest until it passes into theMonocacy Natural Resources Area. The Montgomery County portion of Furnace Branch joins with the other tributary of Furnace Branch that originates within the Sugarloaf Mountain property of Stronghold.

Furnace Branch may have been named because the New Bremen Glassworks was built in this vicinity by John Frederick Amelung. The New Bremen Glassworks was a community of over 500 people that came from Germany in 1785. The artists and craftsmen created the finest glassware in 18th century America. These artists would require many glass furnaces to practice their craft.

Fahrney Branch

Fahrney Branch starts north and west of Damascus near Kemptown. Fahrney Branch remains a small headwater stream within Montgomery County. It flows by farms, fields and forest.

Fahrney Branch is in the Agricultural Preserve. There is a small amount of residential development within the County portion of the subwatershed. Passing into Frederick County near Kemptown Church Road, Fahrney Branch eventually joinsBennett Creekand then the Monocacy River.

Despite its small size, 16 species of fish are found in Fahrney Branch, 5 of them being sunfish.